Page 23 of The Virgin and the Viscount

Who was Lady X? Did Tilly know about this mysterious woman’s crusade against her do-gooding group?

Moreover, were Tilly’s Ladies of Virtue actually as Lady X described them? Not just a charitable women’s organization, but also some sort of vigilante group? The idea seemed absurd. Yes, he’d heard rumors of such a thing when he’d first returned to London. There had been that article in the paper about such a club, but he’d dismissed it at the time. The idea of well-bred ladies gallivanting around London fighting criminals seemed too ridiculous to be believed.

And yet…

Tilly was stubborn. Clever. And as tenacious as one of the tufted monkeys of India that would scamper around the military camp, stealing food and raiding supplies. If there were any woman in London who would dare such behavior, Tilly would.

Which was a troubling thought indeed.

This Lady X claimed to know what she was talking about, but did she really have proof that Thomas had killed Roderick? Sullivan had been searching for such a thing since he’d returned home. He’d do nearly anything to get justice for his older brother.

…

“All right, ladies, all right. Let us call this meeting to order,” Lady Somersby said from the front of the room.

Tilly sat, sandwiched between Agnes and Justine with Harriet sitting on Agnes’s other side. Despite her impending nuptials, Tilly felt light and almost carefree. They were finally back together in their beloved meeting room at Lady Somersby’s townhome having been called together by messengers the evening before.

Lady Somersby clapped her hands to silence the room. “Now then, I know things have been challenging for us the last couple of months, and you have been quite patient,” she said. “I want you to know I appreciate each of you. You’ll be all pleased to know that I’ve called the meeting because I’ve got good news.”

Murmurs whispered through the room but quickly grew quiet again when Lady Somersby started to speak.

“We have been plagued with threats from a mysterious person identifying herself only as Lady X. She has been running a one-person crusade intent on destroying our group. I’m pleased to announce we now know who she is and that, for the time being, the threat is neutralized.”

Relief swept through Tilly so quickly her eyes actually teared up.

The room broke out in applause.

“Who is she?” one woman asked from somewhere behind Tilly’s row.

“Her name is Eleanor Stern and she was a member for a brief time, back when she was Eleanor Flake. She is now Lord Deerfield’s widow.”

Agnes gasped from next to Tilly. “What is it?” Tilly asked.

“My brother was to marry her at one point. Or wanted to,” Agnes whispered. “That must be how he knew who this was. He found her. Or at least he found a letter from her. She’s gone into hiding.”

“Though we do not currently know the whereabouts of Lady Deerfield,” Lady Somersby said, “We feel confident enough that she has let go of her animosity toward us and we are no longer in danger of being exposed.” She smiled widely. “Though it is my understanding that there are a handful of people of rank who have figured out the identities of some of our members. Secrecy to your husbands is certainly not required. In fact, I believe it prudent to tell them what you are doing. Your safety is still my primary priority. That said, it is still in the best interest of our group, as a whole, to keep the membership roster anonymous. People know we’re out there. They know we’re performing good deeds. There’s no reason to believe anyone else will try anything nefarious against us.”

“So what exactly does this mean?” Harriet asked.

“It means you are free to resume your duties, your full duties, as members of the Ladies of Virtue,” Lady Somersby said.

Tilly’s heart thumped wildly. At least something in her life was going according to plan. And now that she was to be Lady Glenbrook, she’d be able to stay in London and continue with her duties, instead of hiding herself in the countryside as her mother had suggested.

That would never have worked. Not only that, but more than likely a tarnished reputation could have put her position with the Ladies of Virtue in danger. Their goal was to never draw attention to themselves. Marrying Sullivan would save her, and she should be so grateful to him.

Their wedding was tomorrow. The real wedding, though everyone believed it was merely a formality to have the ceremony in the church. Sullivan had even managed to persuade a bishop to date their marriage license to when they would supposedly have eloped in Scotland. So according to that paper they were already man and wife.

“What will happen to her? To Lady X?” one of the girls asked.

“There are a few people who are close to locating her, one in particular”—she glanced at Agnes—“has a history with her and believes he can bring her back to London. Nothing will happen to her, per se, as she’s done nothing more than try to reveal our identities and bring an end to our work. I should certainly welcome the opportunity to speak with her. I remember Eleanor. I suspect her actions stem from a good place. So, as always, be careful out there, but fear our invisible foe no longer.”

Another wave of applause sounded through the room.

Lady Somersby clapped her hands to silence them. “One more announcement. We’ve had so many nuptials in our group as of late and it is always such a wonderful thing to celebrate. Please join me in congratulating Matilda on her own soon-to-be wedded bliss. Lord Glenbrook is a lucky man indeed.”

Tilly’s cheeks flamed, but she smiled and hoped the blush served only in making her appear in love. She endured the round of congratulations as the meeting came to an end.

Lady Somersby had said that telling their husbands was appropriate. Tilly waited until the crowd of women had thinned before she approached Harriet and Agnes. Iris was still traveling with her new husband, Lord Ashby, but there was no need to ask her this question. Lord Ashby knew of their group and Iris’s involvement. His newspaper had been the one to break the story with the information he’d received from Lady X.

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